So Many Women, So Little Dime

Brother, you can't spare a dime? Boy, I hear ya. With an economic recession affecting lots of guys, it's understandable why you might think now's not the time to date or search for that committed relationship.

Let me give you my two cents on this matter (which is about how much I had leftover after my last paycheck). First of all, while you don't want to come off as a cheapskate, the other side of the coin is you're not necessarily being a good steward of God's money by trying to impress every woman you meet by saying hi for the first time over steak and lobster! That really is a quick way to go broke, and frankly someone who's only interested in your money isn't the best for you anyway.

So ... let's stick to the coffee date and bookstore date for starters. If things don't work out, you won't need to hock your guitar at the pawn shop to pay your rent. Ah, but what if you are afraid of success? Meeting someone you want to keep dating doesn't mean you have to go bankrupt. In fact, some of my best dates have been free, and they have been rich experiences even when I didn't have two nickels to rub together. For example, here in Chicago there are wonderful museums, art galleries and indoor gardens that combine little or no cost with plenty of romance and good memories.

My all-time favorite, and in the middle of an icy winter, is visiting an indoor collection of plants, flowers and wildlife at a nature center or park venue like the Garfield Park Conservatory just west of Chicago. Warm and tropical right down to the palm trees without spending a dime of cold hard cash. Check it out in your town ... between youth concerts, college activities and nature walks you might not only save a buck, you may also find fantastic ways to have fun that are priceless and unforgettable at the same time.

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~ Jim McClure